[A church leader must] have a good grip on himself, and have a good grip on the Message, knowing how to use the truth to either spur people on in knowledge or stop them in their tracks if they oppose it. Titus 1:8-9, MSG*
The Spirit caught my attention with “have a good grip on the Message, knowing how to use the truth.” That expanded to include “have a good grip on yourself.”
For me, the reminder is to get and keep a good grip on myself—take troubling thoughts captive to Christ, use the armour of God, keep repeating the words He gives me about His shepherding and my freedom. Hold tightly to Scripture and use it wisely.
The challenge in the verse is to do this in cooperation with Him for my own healing and growth, and at the same time to keep alert to the wider picture to see where and how He wants to use me in others’ lives.
God my Shepherd, Healer and King, Your Word is the sword of truth. Help me use it wisely, in battle for myself and for others, as You equip and direct.
∞
Here’s a classic hymn that has blessed me a few times this week (most notably at the close of this year’s Write! Canada conference… over 200 voices, singing exuberantly): “Great is Thy Faithfulness,” sung here by Chris Rice.
Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. Matthew 6:1, NLT*
In Hannah Whitall Smith’s words, “What we do to be seen by men is seen by men—and that’s all there is to it.” (The God of All Comfort, p. 276)
Somehow that unlocks a new depth of meaning for me: the warning isn’t just “live to please God and don’t show off.” It’s also “don’t be a people-pleaser.”
Don’t do your good deeds to impress, but don’t do them to appease or placate. Don’t live and act in fear of rejection, fear of not measuring up, fear of being yelled at or misunderstood.
The enemy of our souls would whisper lies and inflame our fears of failure and rejection, but I don’t for a moment believe this verse says anything about a frowning God who will disqualify us from receiving something good if we’ve operated in people-pleaser mode. Or even if we’ve been showing off.
I do believe our motives will have cost us the reward we could have earned. It’s an opportunity cost, to use an accounting term. It’s not a punishment. God has the reward and wants to give it, but we have a part to play.
Holy and majestic God who hears our quietest prayer, forgive us for the times we’ve acted “to be seen by people” rather than to please Your heart. Thank You for saving us and for loving us too much to leave us in this damaged behaviour pattern. Thank You for today’s and tomorrow’s opportunities to do good with God-ward hearts and to earn that reward in the Holy Spirit’s power. Thank You for the freedom that confidence in You brings, including freedom from fear of other people.
While [Jesus] was eating, a woman came in with a beautiful alabaster jar of expensive perfume and poured it over his head. The disciples were indignant when they saw this. “What a waste!” they said. Matthew 26:7-8, NLT*
A variant of this story is found in all four Gospels**, and I usually think of the one where Judas complained about the money and John says it was because he used to steal from the money pouch.
What catches me here is that all the disciples are indignant about it. Jesus has been telling them He’s going to die, and Matthew actually shows them trying to figure it out a bit. Of course they’re not getting it—the human brain could never conceive of a plan on the scale of Jesus’ sacrifice and resurrection.
The disciples were good men, devoted to Jesus and learning His ways. Giving to the poor was important. They understood that, even if they didn’t get the “coming death” part.
They were so caught up in “the plan” as they knew it that they missed another thread in God’s tapestry. God had a different assignment for this woman on this day, and they would have blocked it by “leaning on their own understanding.”
Anointing Jesus this way expressed her love and gratitude, but it was also a visual prophecy like so many in the Old Testament. She demonstrated what was to come.
And I think her tender gesture blessed Jesus’ heart. He knew what was ahead, and although He didn’t show any sign of strain about it until the struggle in the garden, I’ve wondered how He focused on the now without being paralyzed by the yet-to-come.
God our Father, Master Artist, Your work is detailed beyond our imagining. Help us listen closely to know Your leading, and help us obey with willing hearts. Give us courage when what You ask is different from others’ expectations. And give us grace to recognize Your leading in others’ lives when it doesn’t look the same as the way You work in us. Thank You for the whole picture, which only You can see. We will trust Your ways.
∞
Don Francisco’s song, “Beautiful to Me,” tells the story as found in Luke’s Gospel. I love how he brings stories like this to life.
**I hadn’t realized there were two women who had a part in anointing Jesus for his burial. Both took place in Bethany around the same time, but this one’s in the house of Simon, a former leper, and the woman isn’t named. The other is in the house of Lazarus and it’s his sister, Mary. Mary anoints Jesus’ feet, this woman anoints His head [Luke says she anointed Jesus’ feet, and that may be a third woman but the host is still named Simon (the Pharisee).] Some would say it’s all one event, but while I know a lot of Scripture needs a non-literal interpretation, I view the actual events as historical. Clearly, some of them were (eg. the crucifixion). I don’t dare pick and choose. This is my interpretation, and I respect yours whether or not it’s the same. I’m not here for argument or debate, just to share what God’s teaching me. In this case, the take-away is the same whether there was one anointing or more. ~JS.
In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:16-17, NLT*
Last week had a few not-so-fun-or-glowing days. Things weren’t going the way I wanted. Unvoiced expectations were not being met. And my lingering writer’s identity crisis flared up again.
I spent a lot of time saying “I have a good Shepherd. It’ll be okay.” And as long as I kept saying it, things weren’t so bad. Forget for very long, or go back to thinking about whatever grievance or glum thing was flavour-of-the-moment, and the gloom descended. My poor family!
Words make a huge difference, if we listen and believe them. We know that about negative comments and self-fulfilling prophecies, but sometimes we forget the positive side of our words. Not in the speak-what-you-want-and-it’ll-be-yours way, but in the remind-yourself-of-God’s-truth way.
Creator God who spoke us into being, thank You for words of truth and healing. What You speak is true. Give us faith and help us remember to use Your Word as our shield of faith and our sword to fight.
∞
The song “Everything Falls,” by Fee, helps us hold onto truth whether our struggle is life-shaking or the day-to-day “things” that wear at us.
Whoever lives under the shelter of the Most High
will remain in the shadow of the Almighty.
Psalm 91:1, GW*
When you were little, did you like making blanket forts and nestling into small spaces? I used to love the airy, green “rooms” made by the trailing branches of giant willows.
Still do, actually. And I’ve turned a corner of my bedroom into a cosy “nest” for reading and writing.
The last few weeks have been extra hectic, but when I stopped to rest I kept getting thoughts of shelter. I drifted into some delightful naps while imagining myself tucked into a cosy nook in the overhang of a flowering shrub (on ground as soft as my bed, and without any insects).
When I read this week’s verse, “under the shelter” jumped out at me.
Under the shelter.
I think most translations say “in the shelter,” but this made me stop and think about the shelter images I’d been having. How good is our God, to prompt restful thoughts when I needed them, and then to remind me that He is our ultimate shelter, security and source of rest?
God Most High, Your shelter is perfectly secure because of Your strength. Even when bad things happen, You sustain us and can bring good if we trust You. Strengthen our faith, and help us to keep our trust in You. Open our eyes to the tender, personal ways You remind us of Your love, and help us to live and remain under Your sheltering shadow.
Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true wisdom.
All who obey his commandments will grow in wisdom.
Praise him forever! Psalm 111:10, NLT*
Fear of the Lord is one of those things I’m still trying to understand, and I’m sure that people who try to scare others into the Kingdom of Heaven have missed the point.
But the Psalmist says fear of God is the basis for wisdom.
People explain it as “reverence for the Lord” and that helps a bit. Others say, “fear God or fear everything else.” That makes it a bit clearer.
Reading the book of Matthew in the New Living Translation, I feel like the proverbial penny has dropped. In Matthew 9 we have the story of Jesus saying to a paralyzed man, “Your sins are forgiven. Get up, pick up your bed and go home.”
Look at the crowd’s response:
Fear swept through the crowd as they saw this happen. And they praised God for sending a man with such great authority. (Matthew 9:8, NLT*)
Picture yourself in the crowd. I’d be afraid, wouldn’t you? This is power beyond our imagining. This is the God who is good, but not safe.
This is the God who is bigger than whatever situation threatens to paralyze me with fear. He doesn’t guarantee to provide a miraculous way out, but He does promise to be with me. And with Him in trouble is better than on my own in a safer place.
Holy and mighty God, a glimpse of Your power could undo us, yet we’re drawn to Your presence. Help us understand and believe that we’re held in Your keeping, and that You are stronger than anything we could fear. Help us accept the paradox that in Your love and grace, You may not rescue us from what we fear, and help us trust that Your presence with us will somehow work even the darkness to good in Your time.
Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 2 Corinthians 11:23, NIV*
The Corinthian believers have been listening to trendier leaders than Paul, and while those leaders may have a better delivery they aren’t delivering the truth. In this passage, Paul is reminding these Christians of his “credentials.”
His litany of sufferings prove he’s serving Christ—to the point of enduring persecution. But he’s not talking like a victim, nor a beaten-down fighter.
Instead of “poor me” he’s boasting about this. Not that he’s proud of the suffering as such. He’s saying “See how much Jesus trusts me—He knows I’ll keep focused on Him, and others will hear.” And “See how good He is to sustain me and to advance His kingdom even when its enemies throw everything they’ve got.”
Praise and thanksgiving really do work when we want to keep our spirits set on God.
Father, Sustainer of our spirits, most of us haven’t faced the abuse Paul did, and a lot of what we’ve endured hasn’t been because of persecution. But we still need to keep our eyes on You and our hearts tuned in praise and worship. You are God. Help us anchor in You. Strengthen us so others will see Your goodness and love even when we’re in hard times.
But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:57, NLT*
Jesus won the ultimate victory, and if we trust Him, we’ll spend eternity with Him when we die. But in the here and now, what are some of the ways we have victory in Him?
In Christ, I
can replace the devil’s lies with truth
can learn to see with His perspective instead of my own
don’t have to feel sorry for myself
find strength beyond my own
am forgiven when I sin
am freed from the tyranny of sin
can love when it doesn’t come naturally
can give grace, instead of retaliating
can be secure in His acceptance, instead of fearing rejection or failure
have access to the God of the universe, who loves me
belong.
Merciful and holy God, thank You for rescuing us and for promising to never leave us nor reject us. Forgive us when we forget the benefits of being Your children, and help us learn to live secure in Your victory.
Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12: 1b-3, NIV*
This Easter, what I needed to hear most wasn’t “He is risen” but “nothing can keep Him from coming back.”
I’m tired. There’s an overwhelming amount of pain in the world. Barely any of it is touching me today, but it’s touching plenty of others. And to be honest, the future looks dark and getting darker.
The Last Trumpet might sound awfully good right about now. But it’s not yet time or our ears would be ringing.
There’s still work to do, people to love, mercy to show. How do we keep from “growing weary and losing heart”?
We look at how Jesus did it. He listened closely to the Father, and only did what He saw the Father doing. He knew the Cross was coming, but He stayed in the moment with the people around Him. He didn’t try to carry the pain before its time. When it was time, He kept focused on His ultimate goal.
Father, this world will get worse before You make it better. I’m glad we don’t know how much. And I’m glad we know You and Your promises for the end. Forgive us when we look at the circumstances and get weighted down. Train us to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, our example and our Saviour, and to keep our hearts fixed on You.
∞
Here’s the song that undid me on Good Friday: “Rise Again,” sung here by Dallas Holm.
I will also bless the foreigners who commit themselves to the Lord,
who serve him and love his name,
who worship him and do not desecrate the Sabbath day of rest,
and who hold fast to my covenant. Isaiah 56:6, NLT*
Have we committed ourselves to God—bound ourselves to Him, in some translations?
We did at the moment of our salvation, but do we remember it and live it as strongly as we’d intended?
Committed to God: to belong to Him and to rely on His protection and grace.
Serving God: not to please ourselves, not to please others.
Loving His name: loving who He is, loving and proclaiming His character and reputation.
Worshipping Him: honouring, praising, obeying Him as God alone; keeping our minds and hearts fixed on Him.
Not desecrating the Sabbath: embracing and receiving the rest He gives. (For those who see the New Testament Sabbath rest as more than observing one day as holy, as a daily and ongoing rest, this is even more profound.)
Holding fast to His covenant (His new covenant, as established by the shed blood of Jesus): clinging to our salvation and walking in His light.
God who is worthy of worship and praise, God who saves us and changes us from foreigners to adopted daughters and sons, help us to fully commit ourselves to You. Help us serve and love You, worship You and live to Your glory. Help us live like the people You’ve called us to be, and keep our hearts fixed on You.
